Image by Sideline PicsImage by 20080803soccerexchange.jpg The teenagers arrived in Charleston after a 14-hour delay and a night at the Dulles airport in Washington, D.C.

Fourteen teenage boys from Holzminden, Germany, are in Mount Pleasant for ten days as part of the The German-American Soccer Exchange Program.

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The program is designed to be a cultural exchange between Mount Pleasant and Holzminden. This was the first year of the program, next year 15 Americans will travel to Holzminden. And, a few spots are still available for next year's exchnage, according to the group's Web site.

The Moultrie News has a lengthy write-up on the program, it's background and the kids activities, here's a sample:
"Soccer is just the medium,” said Andrea Berger-Nowak. “The ultimate goal of this is to learn about the origins of the American culture. And when I say this I mean learn by experience. These kids are getting first hand experience. They are learning American history by actually seeing it."

So far, activities have included trips to Charlestowne Landing, a Riverdogs game, lunch on Yorktown and a team building course at James Island County Park. These are just a few of the many historic sites they have seen so far during their 10-day stay.

The group arrived Thursday, July 24, and returned today.

You can keep up with the group at the program's blog and oodles of photos from the soccer exchange program are available on the group's Web site.